Rave Culture Podcast

Bonnaroo 2025: The Festival That Ended Too Soon

Grab your tickets to Project Glow (affiliate link): https://bit.ly/3ovt98c.This week, I'm joined by Pete Kalamoutsos—the powerhouse promoter and visionary behind Washington D.C.'s thriving electronic music scene! As the founder of Club Glow and Echostage, Pete has helped transform D.C. into a global dance music destination

We're back from the desert and giving you our full Coachella 2025 recap and honest review!

Step into the world of immersive experience design with Nova Han, the visionary Creative Director of Electric Forest

Shop Loop's Earplugs & save 15% off with code LOOPX-EMMAKAPOTES: https://www.loopearplugs.com/.Planning your first trip to Coachella or looking to level up your experience? In this episode, I'm joined by content creator and local Coachella legend Angel Chavez to break down everything you need to know about the iconic festival. .What we cover:

In this episode of Rave Culture Cast, we're joined by a true trance legend—Giuseppe Ottaviani! With over two decades of shaping the genre, Giuseppe shares how his classical training and passion for performing at a young age led him to become one of the most innovative live acts in trance. We dive into the inspiration behind his new album and groundbreaking live show OTTAGON, and his thoughts on the future of trance music. Plus, he shares insights on building his live show, his favorite international crowds, playing B2B sets, and up-and-coming trends in the trance community. ..Tune in for an inspiring conversation with one of trance's finest!

Big changes, fresh energy, and a brand-new chapter!

Book your Groove Cruise 2026 Packages (save $50 off per person per room with code RaveCultureCast) -https://www.groovecruise.com/miami26.Groove Cruise 2025 just wrapped, and I'm giving you the ultimate recap and review!

Luci is back on Groove Cruise, and she's bringing a whole new era of music with her!

WHAT A DUO! I had the pleasure of sitting down with the mega-talented DJ & vocalist Tita Lau and had a very special guest crash our interview

Casmalia is back on Groove Cruise, and she's had an absolutely massive year! From launching a successful business to landing her first major European label release, playing b2b with VNSSA & LP Giobbi, and even hearing John Summit & Patrick Topping drop her track at Hi Ibiza—we're covering it all live from Groove Cruise 2025

Shop Lunautics festival beauty & hair accessories & save 10% off with code EMMAK: https://bit.ly/3Rf6vQA If you've ever wanted to land a job in the festival industry, today's guest is a shining example of how to carve a path for yourself! This week I'm joined by Melanie Monroe, the Marketing Director for The Festival Babes—a thriving network empowering female creators in the EDM community. Melanie shares how she established her brand & got her foot in the door to land an internship with The Festival Babes that led into a thriving career

Welcome to Season 8 of Rave Culture Cast! We're kicking things off with a bang by diving into our "Ins" and "Outs" list for raves and festivals in 2025. From the trends we're loving to the ones we're leaving behind, here's what's shaping the future of the festival scene! *Also quick editor's note - I f*cked up and put "holding festival organizers accountable" IN THE WRONG CATEGORY. That should've been in my in's list. My apologies

2024 has been a challenging year for the music festival world. From extreme weather to logistical nightmares, cancellations left fans and industry professionals scrambling. In this episode, we unpack the causes behind these disruptions and explore their lasting impact on the festival scene. Connect with Rave Culture Cast

Was EDC Orlando 2024 everything we hoped for? In this episode of Rave Culture Cast, I'm breaking down the festival with YOUR feedback on the biggest pros and cons

Grab your EDC Orlando 2024 tickets - ⁠https://bit.ly/3PEDUUl⁠  Planning for EDC Orlando? In this episode, I cover everything you need to know before hitting the festival grounds! From essential FAQs and the best travel and accommodation options to the best after-parties, I break down every detail for a smooth experience

▶️ USE CODE: EMMAK for 10% off at Lunautics - https://bit.ly/3hSrdRh In this episode, I'm diving deep into my first-ever visit to the iconic Red Rocks Amphitheatre!

In this episode of Rave Culture Cast, our co-host Alex Amaro (@alex_amaro_music) joined by the one and only San Holo! On the heels of his album, Existential Dance Music, San Holo celebrates 10 years of his project with an anniversary tour and brand new EP, what is life? dropping this Fall. The highly anticipated EP features collaborations with Bipolar Sunshine and Tchami

Grab your Chicago Music Nexus tickets and save $30 off with code RCC: https://www.chicagomusicnexus.com/ In this episode, I'm joined by two powerhouse voices in the music industry—Olivia Mancuso, host of the Elevated Frequencies podcast and branding expert, and Matt Sherman aka Sherm, DJ/Producer, A&R for Hood Politics, and host of Sherm in the Booth. We dive into how podcasting has propelled their careers, the challenges of wearing multiple hats, and their new joint venture—Chicago Music Nexus—an upcoming conference designed to help aspiring artists make valuable connections, expand their industry knowledge, and elevate their music careers. Tune in for insights, advice, and all the exciting details about their game-changing event! Connect with Olivia & Sherm

Shop lunchbox's mini backpack & lite pack (discount code EMMAK) - https://www.lunchboxpacks.com/pages/get-lunchboxJoin me as I sit down with Jaime Sloane, the Global Communications Director for ULTRA Worldwide and founder of J Sloane Creative, to dive deep into the world of music public relations

Today we're spilling the tea on what it's like being a content creator/influencer in the EDM/festival space! I'll be answering YOUR questions about brand deals, job opportunities, collabs, tips & tricks, staying out of drama, and how to deal with the stress of juggling a full-time job and content creation

Shop Loop Earplug's new Sublime collection (discount code LOOPXEMMAK10) - ⁠https://glnk.io/z0o4/emma15⁠ It's time for everyone to return to their prehistoric home and come together once again for Dubstep Disneyland aka LOST LANDS! In this episode, lunchbox pack's Head of Merchandising, content creator, & Lost Lands superfan Jonte Paviel (@jontepaviel) joins me to share a full guide to all things Lost Lands. We'll be covering pre-festival prep like: transportation, lodging, what to pack, camping essentials and what to wear. Pro tips & advice for the festival including: stage descriptions, festival layout, food & drink options, merch, and more! And of course, important info like harm reduction, how to stay safe, and ways to make the most of your Lost Lands experience! Connect with Jonte

Coming off an exciting performance at North Coast and a brand new release "Who Created Love" dropping today, SIDEPIECE is ending Summer on a high note! The tech-house DJ Duo comprised of NITTI (@nittmusic) and Party Favor (@partyfavor) has seen a ton of growth since joining forces in 2019 becoming one of the most in-demand acts in house music. In this episode, we catch up with SIDEPIECE (@youasidepiece) how their project and friendship has developed over the years, how they find fresh ideas, collaboration, their latest single Who Created Love and what excites them about the future of dance music! Connect with SIDEPIECE: https://www.instagram.com/youasidepiece/ Listen to SIDEPIECE: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5czbzNZZfWpyFgZyfT3Mkk Connect with Alex Amaro

Welcome to Season 7 of Rave Culture Cast! We're honored to kick things off with the legend Deorro ahead of his performance at North Coast this weekend! Deorro's rise in dance music grew from building a loyal following on Soundcloud, to working with mentors like Laidback Luke, to crossing over his Mexican-American heritage into his sets and music. He's released with some of the biggest names in dance music and has cemented himself as a beloved artist, multi-talented musician, and voice for the Latin community! We're excited to chat with Deorro about his journey in music, the stories behind some of his biggest tracks, bringing cultures together through music and the importance of representation in dance music

Hey fam! In this week's video, I'm bringing you a new #AskEmmaAnything episode

Mackenzie Crumbley otherwise known as AK Renny is a multifaceted talent - DJ, producer, rapper and songwriter - making her mark on the house music scene with her own artistic flair infusing rap into bass house records

Welcome back to Rave Culture Cast! In this week's episode, we're juggling a few topics to kick off summer festival season

Save 15% off the Loop Link + Tomorrowland bundle OR 2 or more Loop x Tomorrowland Experience earplugs w/ discount code LOOPXEMMATML

Who doesn't love love? In this episode, I'm sharing our listener's incredible memories from being married at EDC Las Vegas over the years! We're celebrating love in the rave community in all forms

Andrew Parsons & Kelly Gray, the co-owners of The Concourse Project, Real Music Events, and Co-creators of Seismic Dance Event, a boutique house & techno music festival based in Austin, TX, are developing an incredible fan base of ravers through expertly curated lineups and experiences. They've also been able to keep their fingers on the pulse of the community as co-owners of the Concourse project, a local favorite for dance music lovers. It's pretty remarkable to see the growth of the scene in Austin and how these two are working hand in hand to help fuel that fire. In this episode, we're shedding a light on that journey and diving into how they're creating a space for rave culture to continue to thrive. Connect with Seismic Dance Event: https://www.instagram.com/seismicdanceevent/ Follow Andrew: https://www.instagram.com/djandrewparsons/ Follow Kelly: https://www.instagram.com/thekellygray_/ Grab tickets to Seismic Spring: https://bit.ly/4bxeuiT Connect with Rave Culture Cast: https://beacons.ai/raveculturecast Connect with Alex Amaro: https://www.instagram.com/alex_amaro_music/ Shop Lunautics festival accessories & beauty products (10% off discount code EMMAK) - https://lunautics.com/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/raveculturepodcast/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/raveculturepodcast/support

Breaking into the music industry isn't just about talent...⁠ ⁠ It takes grit, dedication, and a strong mindset to persevere. Just ask Nik Cherwink - an artist & life coach who's worked with some of the most well-known artists & brands in the music industry

Today's guest is one of the most electrifying artists in the electronic music scene, amassing a loyal fan base through his masked project REAPER. His unique take on drum n bass has unified dance music fans from a variety of subgenres & cemented his presence in both the US scene as well as aboard. We're excited to dive into how his project has developed, his focus on storytelling through his music and the renaissance of the drum n bass scene in the US. Connect with REAPER: https://open.spotify.com/artist/24kY0bUku58QhWv5WFFXaf https://www.instagram.com/reapernoises/ https://www.tiktok.com/@reapernoises Connect with Rave Culture Cast: https://beacons.ai/raveculturecast Connect with Alex Amaro: https://www.instagram.com/alex_amaro_music/

Welcome back to Rave Culture Cast! Today I'm super excited to welcome Chris Stewart onto the podcast. Chris is the founder of GRIDLIFE, an event series that merges the worlds of motorsports, car culture and electronic music! After building a successful career in creative strategy & advertising, Chris was able to use his background to build an innovative live event experience for fans to help grow car curiosity in the United States. I'm excited to dive into this unique world and share GRIDLIFE's story with you in this episode! Shop lunchbox's new mini backpack and save with code EMMAK - https://www.lunchboxpacks.com/products/mini-pack More info on GRIDLIFE Midwest - https://www.gridlifemidwest.com/ Follow Chris: https://www.instagram.com/thechrisstewart/ Follow GRIDLIFE Festival: https://www.instagram.com/gridlifefest/ Connect with Rave Culture Cast: https://beacons.ai/raveculturecast --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/raveculturepodcast/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/raveculturepodcast/support

MY FIRST SOCAL FESTIVAL IS IN THE BOOKS! I've been waiting for years to finally attend an event at the NOS center and have a ton of thoughts to share with y'all about my experience at Beyond Wonderland. In this episode, I'll be going over my accommodations, travel, thoughts on the theme and stage designs, favorite sets, overcrowding, the Cali crowd and my pros & cons list! Hope you guys enjoy

We're really popping off on this one fam... Music festival tickets have been rising in costs over the last few years and post pandemic it seems like event producers are still recovering and fans and paying the price. In this episode, I'm taking a deep dive into what is causing festival and event tickets to rise in price and sharing my thoughts on where I'm at with attending shows. I also have a few industry insiders share their brutally honest opinions on what factors come into play with show costs. Connect with Rave Culture Cast: https://beacons.ai/raveculturecast Apply to be a new Rave Culture Cast contributor - https://forms.gle/Wj3iKE84nae3bA7WA

Shop Lunautics festival accessories (discount code EMMAK) - https://bit.ly/3Rf6vQA In this episode, I'm joined by Eric Fuller, the Founder of BLNK CNVS, a prominent event & production company based in South Florida. Eric has had a colorful career in dance music from founding & operating Life in Color (the world's largest paint party) expanding to work with SFX Entertainment to starting multiple companies in the event production space to co-owning Club Space. Today we're diving into what it's like launching live event brands, the behind-the-scenes of preparing for Miami Music Week and tips for networking in our industry! Follow BLNK CNVS: https://www.instagram.com/blnkcnvspresents BLNK CNVS MMW events: https://www.blnkcnvs.com/mmw24 Connect with Rave Culture Cast ➡️ https://beacons.ai/raveculturecast Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 0:46 Lunautics Ad 1:30 Episode introduction 3:30 Eric Fuller's early career 8:48 The expansion of Life in Color 11:45 SFX Entertainment transition 14:30 Miami's music scene 16:50 Eric's involvement in Space Miami 21:36 Miami Music Week planning 25:42 What inspired BLNK CNVS + relationship building 29:50 Networking during MMW 32:29 How to market events during MMW 37:14 Behind-the-scenes of event production 42:05 Influencer marketing in dance music 45:54 How Eric unwinds after MMW 48:28 The future of BLNK CNVS --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/raveculturepodcast/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/raveculturepodcast/support

WE'VE GOT SOME BIG UPDATES FOR EDC LAS VEGAS 2024 FAM! Major stages moving locations, Downtown EDC relocating, a roof for Neon Garden, YEEEEEDC Cowboy Salon and SO much more

➡️ Book your Groove Cruise 2025 rooms & save $50 off per person/per room with code RaveCultureCast - https://www.groovecruise.com/miami2025 Today's guest is someone who has been big in the game for 20+ years. His previous project Claude VonStroke won over audiences and built a legacy through his label Dirtybird Records and events like Dirtybird Camp Out. Now he's laser focused on embracing his identity as Barclay Crenshaw and embarking on this new direction that stays true to his roots. He's exploring genres near and dear to his heart from bass to dub to hip-hop and funk. His new album Open Channel drops on March 8th followed by an exciting tour kicking off in NYC! Connect with Barclay: Instagram ➡️ https://www.instagram.com/barclaycrenshaw/ Open Channel tour ➡️ https://barclaycrenshaw.com/ Connect with Rave Culture Cast ➡️ https://beacons.ai/raveculturecast --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/raveculturepodcast/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/raveculturepodcast/support

This week I'm super excited to be doing a podcast swap with Justin McGary of the Underground Society Podcast! Justin and I chat about starting podcasts, finding a balance with work and side hustles, and his most interesting guests. We also chat https://beacons.ai/raveculturecastsome hot topics like Coachella's slow ticket sales, Marshmello's announcement that he's returning to EDM and Azzecca's Tweet about large scale DJ sets.

Book your Groove Cruise 2025 rooms & save $50 off per person/per room with code RaveCultureCast - ⁠https://www.groovecruise.com/miami2025 Our first Groove Cruise is in the books! I've heard the rumors about how incredible cruise ship festivals are and I can now confirm: they're wild. They're exciting. They're exhausting. They're addicting. They're worth every penny! In this episode, I'm going to be recapping my experience on Groove Cruise and sharing tons of tips & advice for future GC Fam along the way

Rising stars Max Low joined me on Groove Cruise 2024 to chat about their growth as artists last year, being recognized on 1001Tracklist's "Future of Dance Music" list, working with Gene Farris & more! Connect with Max Low: https://www.instagram.com/whoismaxlow

Casmalia joined me on Groove Cruise 2024 to chat about her favorite Groove Cruise memories, what it means to be a part of the Femme House takeover, what trends in music she's loving & her new house music concept album! Stick around til the end for a lightning round to get to know Casmalia more! Connect with Casmalia: https://www.instagram.com/casmaliamusic

K3SS joined me on Groove Cruise 2024 to chat about his history with Groove Cruise & tips for surviving the weekend, his big life change leaving the Marines this year to pursue music full time and how the Neon Owl platform helped shape his career! Connect with K3SS: https://www.instagram.com/k3ssmusic

HALIENE joined me on Groove Cruise 2024 to chat about finding her path in the music industry, the inspiration behind her album "Heavenly," and how we can continue to support vocalists in dance music! Stick around until the end for a lightning round of "Word Association" with HALIENE! Connect with HALIENE: https://www.instagram.com/haliene

Trivecta joined me on Groove Cruise 2024 to chat about his growth as an artist post-album drop, his relationship with his fans, and his favorite hot sauces! Stick around until the end to learn about Trivecta's "Firsts."

Shop Lunchbox's winter sale & save with code KAPOTES - https://www.lunchboxpacks.com/ Hailing from Tampa and now living in Denver, Lizzy Jane is a quadruple threat: songwriter, vocalist, producer and live instrumentalist. Her unique background and talents have helped her build up a loyal following & a surge of new shows & festival appearances. She's also the host of the Lizzy Jane podcast which debuted its second season this week! Her debut EP Ignite is dropping in April with the first single WASHED AWAY coming out on February 29th! Lizzy joins me to chat about entering her "authentic" era in 2024, what's in store for her 2 album drops, what it was like opening for Gryffin at Red Rocks and so much more

Shop Loop Earplugs (10% discount code: LOOPXRAVECULTURE) - https://bit.ly/41o3K2N EDM Maniac has become one of the most notable media brands in the dance music industry with hundreds of thousands of followers on social media, a full editorial team and network of creators who have helped this digital publication explode since 2012. Between their live event coverage, infamous festival report card, new sub verticals in food and travel and relatable video content, they've become a fan favorite for dance music enthusiasts looking to learn more about the scene! EDM Maniac's founder Devin Lezama joins me to share their origin story, how he navigated an ever changing social landscape and plans for EDMM's expansion in 2024!

Shop Loop Earplugs (10% discount code: LOOPXRAVECULTURE) - https://bit.ly/41o3K2N Happy 2024 fam! Todays guest has been a long time coming. I'm excited to welcome Ben Yi who is the label manager of Ophelia Records. He's been with the team since 2019 and handles everything from the growth & development of the label, marketing & promotion, planning label showcases & events, managing A&R and more! Today we chat about how Ophelia Records has evolved over the years, what they look for when signing new releases, how stage takeovers come together and how they keep up with genre & social media trends while staying true to their ethos as a brand. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/raveculturepodcast/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/raveculturepodcast/support

If you haven't heard these artists names yet, you're about to in 2024! Let me put you on to 21 dance music acts that are rising stars in their respective genres from house to techno to dubstep and beyond

Shop Loop Earplugs & save 10% off with discount code LOOPXRAVECULTURE: https://bit.ly/41o3K2N Welcome to our annual "Best of EDM" episode! In this episode, I'm taking a look back at the dance music that defined 2023. I'll be going over my top artists, tracks, collaborations, albums and breakout stars as well as sharing the results from our audience's votes! Listen to our "Best of EDM 2023" playlist

Shop BoomBoom nasal sticks & save 10% off with code EMMAK - https://boomboomnaturals.com/ 2023 was a whirlwind. It gave us the return of Skrillex, Alison Wonderland birthing a new album & her son Max, a legal battle for John Summit, record flooding at Burning Man and Electric Zoo's meltdown to name a few headlines. In this video, I'm going to be taking a look back at the biggest moments in the dance music & festival industry that defined 2023.